Definition

1. Verb (Transitive):

   • To tolerate or endure: To accept or bear something or someone unpleasant without complaint or resistance.
   • To wait for: To await something, often patiently.

2. Verb (Intransitive):

   • To remain or continue: To stay in a place or condition.
   • To dwell or reside: To live in a place (archaic or formal usage).

Usage and Examples

• Verb (Transitive):

  • How can you abide his constant complaining? (How can you tolerate his constant complaining?)
  • She could not abide the thought of leaving. (She could not endure the thought of leaving.)
  • He abided his time until the right moment to speak. (He waited patiently until the right moment to speak.)

• Verb (Intransitive):

  • A feeling of dread abided with her all day. (A feeling of dread remained with her all day.)
  • "Abide with me," the old hymn pleads. ("Stay with me," the old hymn pleads. - This uses the archaic sense of 'dwell/reside with'.)

Advanced Usage and Phrases

• "abide by" (phrasal verb): To accept, follow, or act in accordance with a rule, decision, or promise.

  • All contestants must abide by the judge's decision.
  • You agreed to the terms, so you must abide by them.

• "cannot/can't abide": A common construction expressing strong dislike or intolerance.

  • I can't abide people who are rude to waitstaff.

Variants and Related Words

• Abidance (noun): The act of abiding; compliance.
  • Strict abidance by the law is required.
• Abiding (adjective): Lasting; enduring.
  • She left an abiding impression on all who met her.

Synonyms

• Tolerate: To allow the existence or occurrence of something without interference.
• Endure: To suffer patiently; to last or remain in existence.
• Withstand: To remain undamaged or unaffected by.
• Remain: To continue to exist, especially after others have gone.

Phrasal Verbs

• Abide by: As detailed above, this is the most common phrasal verb, meaning to comply with or adhere to.

Related Idioms

• Abide the consequence: To accept and face the results of one's actions.
  • If you break the rules, you must abide the consequence.
• Abide one's time: To wait patiently for an opportunity.
  • He is just abiding his time until a management position opens up.

Verb

1. put up with something or somebody unpleasant
   • I cannot bear his constant criticism
   • The new secretary had to endure a lot of unprofessional remarks
   • he learned to tolerate the heat
   • She stuck out two years in a miserable marriage
2. dwell
   • You can stay with me while you are in town
   • stay a bit longer--the day is still young